“Today, Katy ISD stands in solidarity with the community of Parkland, Florida. As we extend our deepest condolences to the families affected by this senseless tragedy, we want to reiterate to our parents and staff that Katy ISD has a robust emergency protocol. Regularly, the Katy ISD Police Department, along with school officials in our 67 campuses, address various emergency situations and conduct the appropriate drills. We have learned over time that the number one deterrent to any threat is open dialogue between parents, students and staff. They are often the first line of defense when it comes to keeping our schools safe, as someone on campus often has first-hand knowledge about what a peer and/or classmate may be thinking or doing. Together, with our law enforcement agencies, we all play an important role in protecting students.”

Lance Hindt, Katy ISD superintendent, on the Feb. 14 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida